DETAILS: A spectacular vintage 1950s wedding dress or ball gown! Fitted and boned bodice with a flattering dropped waist that dips to a vee in front. The curving strapless top features a foldover cuff that is lightly gathered over each breast for a soft petal effect. Skirt is dramatically full - imagine how fabulous it will look with a bridal crinoline underneath!

SIZE: No size label. The dress is pinned on Josephine - she is about 5'9" tall.

Bust - 38" (96. 5cm)

Approximate waist -28. 5" (72. 5cm)

Hips Plenty of room

Bodice length from highest point midline breast to dropped waist - 14" (35. 5cm)

Skirt length from same line as bodice length measurement - 43" (109cm)

Sweep - 240" (608cm)

FABRIC/COLORS: Ivory/cream bridal weight satin - based on a fiber burn test, most likely a rayon/acetate blend.

TAGS: Mabel Hogan, 100 Boylston St., Boston Mass.

CLOSURES: Closes in back with a metal zipper, two hooks & eyes at the top.

CONDITION: I gently steamed this for photos but the gown should be dry cleaned by someone you trust to get it looking its best before wearing. I would consider overall condition as very good. There is some very subtle darkening to the bodice cuff in the underarm area - convo me for close-up photos if desired. I found a 1. 5" section of the upper skirt where it is gathered into the waist with some old needle-stitch marks - it looks like the original tailor might have made small error that had to be removed and redone. A few hand-done stitches from the lining are visible on the outer bodice - email me if you'd like to see a photo. The hem has a variety of scattered light marks and stains - see other closeup- with a 1/2" section of open seam (the hem facing is a separate piece of fabric) and about 1' of the hem is down. None of the marks go higher than 3-4" above the bottom. Based on the length of the gown and the way it fits on the mannequin, I think that the dress could be shortened a few inches and still work for a woman 5'7" or shorter.

MagsRags is a member of the Vintage Fashion Guild